Based on your request and the news context from Gurnee, Waukegan, and Lake County, here are two Rotary project opportunities that align with Rotary’s areas of focus:
1. Project: News Literacy & Combating Misinformation Workshops
Context:
Recent commentary in Lake County media (column by Jim Slusher) highlights growing concern about the spread of misinformation and the necessity of news literacy for all ages. With the upcoming election cycle, divisiveness, and “fake news,” there is a pressing need for educational programming that teaches youth and adults how to discern legitimate sources from misinformation.
Potential Partners:
- Local schools in Waukegan, Gurnee, and across Lake County
- Public libraries (e.g., Warren-Newport Public Library in Gurnee, Waukegan Public Library)
- News Literacy Project, a national nonprofit
- College of Lake County communication faculty
Next Steps:
- Convene a meeting with library directors and school district curriculum specialists to gauge interest and identify existing efforts.
- Apply for Rotary District or Foundation grants to support materials/workshops.
- Recruit volunteer speakers from among journalism students at College of Lake County and local journalists.
- Organize a series of community workshops for both teens and adults in spring 2026, timed before the general election.
2. Project: Youth Community Mental Health Support Group
Context:
There is an ongoing, region-wide need for youth mental health support. The movie “Eleanor the Great,” recently discussed in local media, addresses grief and friendship, underscoring how youth and families confront loss and loneliness. Rotary’s focus on community health—and the spike in youth anxiety and grief post-pandemic—make this an urgent issue.
Potential Partners:
- Lake County Health Department
- Youth & Family Counseling (Libertyville)
- Schools’ social work departments
- Gurnee Exchange Club and other civic organizations
- Faith-based organizations with youth/outreach programs
Next Steps:
- Arrange an exploratory meeting with local counselors and school social workers to design support group curriculum and identify gaps.
- Use Rotary Club communications and local media to promote safe, stigma-free support spaces.
- Seek funding or in-kind sponsorship (for space, refreshments, specialized facilitators).
- Launch as a pilot in one or two middle schools by early summer 2026, with potential for expansion to other sites.
These initiatives leverage Rotary’s strengths in education and health, promote community connectivity, and offer concrete support to residents in Lake County, Gurnee, and Waukegan.
Here are two Rotary service or fundraising project recommendations for Gurnee, Waukegan, and Lake County, IL, based on recent news and aligned with Rotary’s areas of focus:
1. Community Health & Victim Support: Fundraiser and Service Project for A Safe Place
Context:
A Safe Place, led by CEO Patricia Davenport, is Lake County’s primary organization supporting victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. The need for their services has increased “tremendously” over the past decade, and they are actively fundraising for a new facility to meet rising demand for shelter, counseling, and advocacy. This aligns with Rotary's focus on community health and supporting vulnerable populations, especially women and children.
Potential Partners:
- A Safe Place (Patricia Davenport, CEO)
- Local businesses and civic groups
- Counseling and healthcare providers
- Local schools and faith communities
Next Steps:
- Contact A Safe Place to discuss their capital campaign goals, tour their current facility, and identify immediate needs (e.g., shelter renovations, awareness campaigns).
- Organize a fundraising event such as a community dinner, charity walk/run, or benefit concert with sponsors from local businesses.
- Recruit Rotary volunteers to assist with facility improvements or host workshops on topics like personal safety, financial literacy, or career skills for survivors.
- Leverage Rotary’s network to promote educational outreach at schools and in the community about domestic violence prevention and available resources.
- Publicize the project through social media, local press, and at community events to raise both funds and awareness.
2. Environmental Stewardship: Community Recycling & Education Initiatives
Context:
A recent Waukegan event highlighted the community’s commitment to recycling and environmental education, collecting items for proper disposal and raising awareness about sustainability. Environmental protection is a key Rotary focus area, and local interest is high. There are opportunities to expand these efforts, especially for hard-to-recycle items and ongoing environmental education.
Potential Partners:
- City of Waukegan and Gurnee sanitation/environmental departments
- Local schools (to engage youth and amplify educational impact)
- Environmental Advocacy groups (e.g., Solid Waste Agency of Lake County)
- Local businesses willing to sponsor or host collection sites
Next Steps:
- Partner with municipal agencies to co-organize quarterly recycling drives for items like electronics, batteries, and hazardous household waste.
- Develop and distribute educational materials—possibly with student involvement—on recycling, composting, and reducing single-use plastics.
- Organize Rotary-led workshops in schools and community centers focusing on environmental responsibility and hands-on activities (upcycling, composting demos).
- Seek grant funding or in-kind donations from area businesses for necessary supplies and promotional materials.
- Publicize event dates and recycling guidelines widely via local media, schools, and online community forums.
These initiatives respond to immediate community needs while aligning with Rotary’s values and providing high-impact, visible opportunities for service and partnership in Lake County.
1. Lake County Youth Literacy & Academic Achievement Initiative
Context:
Visharad Sathish, a 12-year-old from Lake County, recently won a marathon regional spelling bee and will represent the area at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May 2025. This highlighted the strong achievements and potential of local youth in academic competitions. However, with over 70 schools and hundreds of students participating, there is an opportunity to further support literacy and academic success, especially for students who may lack resources for enrichment activities like spelling bees.
Potential Partners:
- Lake County Regional Office of Education
- Local school districts (Gurnee District 56, Waukegan Public Schools)
- Lake County libraries
- Local businesses and tutoring centers (e.g., Sylvan Learning Center, Kumon)
Next Steps:
- Reach out to the Lake County Regional Office of Education to explore joint sponsorship of after-school literacy clubs, spelling programs, or academic competitions—especially in underrepresented communities.
- Create an annual Rotary Literacy Grant or Scholarship for students excelling in language arts, spelling, or reading competitions.
- Organize a “Literacy Day” with workshops, guest speakers, and book drives in partnership with local schools and libraries.
- Raise funds with a spelling bee-themed event open to adults and families to support prize scholarships or materials for future competitions.
2. Lake County Victim Support Center Fundraising & Service Project
Context:
A local Lake County victim support group is fundraising for a new facility due to high demand—described in local coverage as an “epidemic” of need. There’s an urgent requirement for improved support services for survivors of crime, especially those impacted by violence or trauma. This aligns with Rotary’s focus on community health and support for vulnerable populations.
Potential Partners:
- Local victim advocacy organization(s) (e.g., A Safe Place, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic)
- Lake County Health Department
- Local law enforcement agencies
- Area hospitals (Vista Health System, Lake Behavioral Hospital)
Next Steps:
- Connect with the leadership of the victim support group to assess immediate facility and program needs.
- Organize a Rotary-led fundraising event (e.g., a “Community Walk for Hope” or benefit dinner) to help support the new facility.
- Solicit in-kind donations (furniture, supplies) from local businesses to help outfit the expanded center.
- Arrange for Rotary volunteers to provide hands-on service days: facility improvement, prepping welcome kits for victims, or supporting awareness campaigns throughout Gurnee, Waukegan, and the broader Lake County community.
These two project directions—youth academic support and victim services—address current, high-profile community needs and explicitly connect with Rotary’s key areas of focus on education/youth and community health.
Potential Partners:
- The domestic violence organization spearheading the facility (identify and reach out for partnership; likely to be a group such as A Safe Place in Zion, which serves Lake County)
- Local law enforcement (Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Round Lake Beach Police Department)
- Regional social service agencies and hospitals
- Lake County Health Department
Next Steps:
- Contact the lead domestic violence organization to discuss funding and in-kind needs (e.g., supplies, furniture, volunteer manpower, mentorship, educational workshops).
- Organize a fundraising drive or benefit event, possibly partnered with local businesses (e.g., Pequod’s Pizza, The Vine in Grayslake) and leverage community venues.
- Offer ongoing Rotary-sponsored service opportunities such as youth mentoring programs, after-school tutoring, or wellness workshops for shelter residents.
- Publicize the campaign through local news (Patch, social media) and Rotary communications networks.
Potential Partners:
- Local school districts (Round Lake District 116, Waukegan Public Schools)
- Community organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of Lake County or YouthBuild Lake County
- Police departments offering youth outreach initiatives
- Nonprofits specializing in violence prevention (e.g., Mano a Mano Family Resource Center)
Next Steps:
- Convene a summit with local schools, law enforcement, and youth organizations to assess gaps in current violence prevention or youth support programming.
- Launch a mentoring or after-school program (potentially in collaboration with Boys & Girls Club or local schools) providing life skills, tutoring, STEAM activities, and conflict resolution education.
- Seek Rotary International grant funding to sponsor program costs, supplies, and stipends for community intervention specialists.
- Organize a public awareness campaign to recruit volunteers and encourage local business support.
- Measure long-term impact via participant feedback and changes in local youth crime rates.
These projects directly address current, pressing community issues and align strongly with Rotary’s mission and areas of focus, providing immediate and sustainable benefits to vulnerable populations in Lake County.
Rotary Service and Fundraising Opportunities – Gurnee, Waukegan & Lake County, IL
Context:
On September 25, a "Senior Resource Fair" and "Dementia Live - Simulation Training" are scheduled at the Sports Center (Round Lake Area Park District). The inclusion of dementia training highlights growing concerns about memory loss and the well-being of the aging population in Lake County. The community’s need for support services, caregiver respite, and education is increasing as the population ages.
Potential Partners: - Round Lake Area Park District - Local senior care facilities (e.g., Sunrise Senior Living, Gurnee Place Memory Care) - Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter - CYN Counseling Center (noted as benefiting from a nearby gala) - Health science programs at College of Lake County
Next Steps: - Collaborate with the Park District to co-host additional dementia simulation and caregiver workshops quarterly. - Organize a Rotary-led fundraising event (e.g., Rotary Pancake Breakfast + Resource Expo) with proceeds supporting dementia-friendly programming, respite care scholarships, and local organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association. - Invite expert speakers to upcoming Rotary meetings to educate members and plan for broader community involvement. - Develop a volunteer “Rotary Friendly Visitor” team to provide regular visits for isolated seniors, in partnership with local facilities.
Context:
Events like the “Used Book Sale” (September 27) and the “Fall Grayslake Farmers Market” reflect ongoing community efforts to promote literacy, education, and family engagement. With youth literacy rates impacted during and after the pandemic, supporting access to books and educational enrichment remains a priority. The book sale directly benefits the community but could be amplified with targeted Rotary involvement.
Potential Partners: - Grayslake Area Public Library - Local schools (Grayslake Central/North High School, Waukegan Public Schools) - United Way of Lake County (known for “Success By 6” early literacy initiatives) - Local businesses for sponsorships (e.g., Pequod’s Pizza, Beer Bazaar)
Next Steps: - Launch a “Rotary Reads” book collection campaign—engaging clubs, schools, and businesses—to gather books for underserved children and local library programs. - Support or expand the Used Book Sale into a larger community literacy fest, with mini-workshops, storytelling, and fundraising for literacy kits and direct donations to school libraries. - Coordinate ongoing volunteer reading programs in local elementary schools, especially targeting Waukegan and underserved areas. - Seek grant opportunities (Rotary District Grants, United Way) to supply students with new books, reading materials in multiple languages, and after-school tutoring support.
Both opportunities align with Rotary’s areas of focus—disease prevention and treatment, supporting education, and growing local economies—while responding to specific, timely community developments.
Certainly! Based on recent news and highlighted community themes in Gurnee, Waukegan, and Lake County, IL—and aligning with Rotary’s areas of focus—here are two timely and impactful service/fundraising project ideas:
1. Support for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities - Context: The Riverside Foundation, highlighted as a Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board grant recipient, enriches lives through services and support for individuals with developmental disabilities. With ongoing needs and the potential to expand activities, community volunteers and additional fundraising are essential to strengthen their programming and inclusion. - Potential Partners: Riverside Foundation; Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board; local businesses like Waukegan Tire (noted as a family-owned local sponsor); service clubs of local high schools such as Woodlands Academy. - Next Steps: - Contact Riverside Foundation: Initiate a dialogue to assess immediate needs—this could be supporting recreational programs, infrastructure, or assistive technology. - Organize an Inclusive Community Day: Plan a co-hosted fair inviting businesses and schools to participate in adaptive activities and awareness, raising both social inclusion and funds for specific foundation needs. - Launch a Fundraiser: Coordinate a community walk/run or dinner in collaboration with sponsors. Proceeds could support underwritten services, equipment, or special outings for residents. - Engage Youth Groups: Involve student volunteers from high schools—including Woodlands Academy and Lake Forest area schools—to foster mentorship and exposure to meaningful community service.
2. Holiday Giving Program Expansion for Vulnerable Families - Context: Vernon Township’s Holiday Giving Programs (Thanksgiving baskets, wish-list gifts, meal donations) are highlighted as ways to support local families during high-need seasons. With increased economic pressure on families, expansion and outreach can have an outsized impact this year—especially incorporating newer communities such as Waukegan, Gurnee, and Lake Forest. - Potential Partners: Vernon Township government and Community Mental Health Board; local grocery stores and restaurants (such as those participating in food events); Woodlands Academy and other local schools; faith institutions such as area churches involved in charitable giving. - Next Steps: - Coordinate with Vernon Township: Identify gaps and numbers of underserved families that current giving programs aren’t reaching. - Rotary-Led “Adopt-a-Family” Campaign: Recruit club members and partner organizations to sponsor or fundraise for more Thanksgiving baskets, winter coats, or gift drives, ensuring coverage in Gurnee, Waukegan, and Lake Forest-Bluff. - Community Packing/Distribution Event: Host an event to assemble meal kits and package gifts, inviting students, local business partners, and the broader community. - Year-Round Food Security Initiative: Explore the potential for ongoing food pantry support or monthly meal programs, leveraging the momentum and relationships built during the holidays.
These projects directly serve pressing community segments—those with developmental disabilities and low-income families—while providing powerful opportunities for Rotary service and partnership in the heart of Lake County.
1. Community Violence Prevention & Youth Support Initiative
Context:
Recent reports from Lake County highlight ongoing issues with youth and community violence, including a shooting in Round Lake Beach that injured a 19-year-old woman and continued gun-related incidents in Waukegan. The area has additionally seen cases involving youth at risk, including those related to sexual predators, child pornography, and police-involved shootings, reflecting underlying concerns of safety, trauma, and lack of support for vulnerable youth populations.
Potential Partners:
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office
- Local school districts (e.g., Waukegan Community Unit School District 60, Gurnee School District 56)
- Youth mental health providers (e.g., Lake County Health Department, Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center)
- Organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of Lake County
Next Steps:
- Convene a Rotary-hosted community safety forum inviting youth, parents, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and educators to identify challenges, raise awareness, and build trust.
- Form a task force to develop a Youth Mentorship and Safe Spaces program, offering after-school activities, counseling, and mentorship opportunities, leveraging Rotary grants and community volunteers.
- Organize a fundraising event (e.g., community walk, benefit dinner) to support program launch, ongoing trauma counseling, and safety education initiatives in schools and neighborhoods most at risk.
2. Road Safety Advocacy & Support Campaign
Context:
There have been tragic vehicular incidents in Lake County, notably two hit-and-runs, one of which killed a pregnant woman in Mundelein (with a Waukegan resident, Rosalinda Vaca, charged). The recurrence of these events points to critical community needs in traffic safety education, victim support, and driver responsibility awareness.
Potential Partners:
- Lake County Coroner's Office & local police departments
- Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
- Local hospitals (e.g., Vista Medical Center, Advocate Condell Medical Center)
- Victim advocacy groups (e.g., Mothers Against Drunk Driving, local grief counseling centers)
Next Steps:
- Launch a "Drive Safely, Save Lives" education campaign in partnership with area schools, libraries, and local businesses, providing in-person presentations and distributing materials on pedestrian safety, distracted driving, and reporting procedures for hit-and-runs.
- Organize and host a memorial charity run/walk annually in honor of victims of traffic violence, raising funds for medical, counseling, and legal aid for affected families.
- Advocate for improved local infrastructure such as better crosswalks, lighting, and signage at high-risk intersections, presenting Rotary-supported recommendations to local government and city councils.